Controlled Double-Blind Trial of Nifedipine in the Treatment of Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon may cause severe digital pain and functional disability, particularly in patients with underlying connective-tissue disease. The treatment of this condition is difficult.¹ Nifedipine, a slow calcium-channel antagonist, causes vascular smooth-muscle relaxation and relief of arterial vasospasm.^{2 3 4} Nifedipine-induced vasodilation has been shown to result in a fall in peripheral vascular resistance and an increase in peripheral blood flow.⁵ Nifedipine increases the skin blood flow by 50 to 150 per cent in normal persons and has also been shown in vitro to inhibit norepinephrine-induced vasospasm of rabbit and human peripheral arteries and veins.^6,7 The calcium-channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil have.